Abstract: An cardioplegic fluid delivery catheter includes an expandable member for occluding the ascending aorta of a patient. A length of the catheter allows the distal end to be within the ascending aorta while the proximal end extends from a peripheral artery. The delivery catheter has a multi-lumen construction with a primary lumen extending configured to allow a cardioplegic fluid to be delivered to the aorta. Secondary lumens provide for balloon inflation and aortic root pressure monitoring. The delivery catheter includes a shaft having a pre-determined curve profile at a distal end of the delivery catheter. The pre-determined curve profile generally corresponds to the curve of the bottom surface of the aortic arch. The shaft may be eccentric to the expandable member such that retraction of the shaft causes a distal tip to be parallel within the ascending aorta.

Abstract: A system for treating a diseased body conduit bifurcation that is readily deliverable into a region of a body conduit having typically asymmetric anatomy, such as a vessel bifurcation is provided. The system comprises a delivery device such as a catheter having a shaft with varying torsional properties along its length and a delivery apparatus mounted at its distal end. A distal end of the device can be inserted into the main branch and at least one side branch of a vessel bifurcation. The distal end includes at least two expansion members having expandable scaffolds or prostheses mounted thereon. One scaffold is configured such that one expansion member extends through the length of the scaffold while the other expansion member extends through the side-structure of the scaffold. A second scaffold is mounted on the expansion member extending through the side-structure of the first scaffold.

Abstract: A method for treating a diseased body conduit at a bifurcation point is provided. A system having devices mounted thereon is advanced into the bifurcated region of the conduit. The system includes a delivery means, such as a catheter having a shaft with varying torsional properties along its length and a delivery apparatus mounted at its distal end. A distal end of the delivery means can be inserted into the main branch and at least one side branch of a vessel bifurcation. The distal end includes at least two expansion members having expandable devices or prostheses mounted thereon. One device is configured such that one expansion member extends through the length of the scaffold while the other expansion member extends through the side-structure of the scaffold. A second scaffold is mounted on the expansion member extending through the side-structure of the first scaffold. The devices are positioned within the main and side branches of the bifurcation and are expanded.

Abstract: A method for treating a diseased body conduit at a bifurcation point is provided. A system having devices mounted thereon is advanced into the bifurcated region of the conduit. The system includes a delivery means, such as a catheter having a shaft with varying torsional properties along its length and a delivery apparatus mounted at its distal end. A distal end of the delivery means can be inserted into the main branch and at least one side branch of a vessel bifurcation. The distal end includes at least two expansion members having expandable devices or prostheses mounted thereon. One device is configured such that one expansion member extends through the length of the scaffold while the other expansion member extends through the side-structure of the scaffold. A second scaffold is mounted on the expansion member extending through the side-structure of the first scaffold. The devices are positioned within the main and side branches of the bifurcation and are expanded.

Abstract: A system for treating a diseased body conduit bifurcation that is readily deliverable into a region of a body conduit having typically asymmetric anatomy, such as a vessel bifurcation is provided. The system comprises a delivery device such as a catheter having a shaft with varying torsional properties along its length and a delivery apparatus mounted at its distal end. A distal end of the device can be inserted into the main branch and at least one side branch of a vessel bifurcation. The distal end includes at least two expansion members having expandable scaffolds or prostheses mounted thereon. One scaffold is configured such that one expansion member extends through the length of the scaffold while the other expansion member extends through the side-structure of the scaffold. A second scaffold is mounted on the expansion member extending through the side-structure of the first scaffold.

Abstract: A balloon catheter for medical treatment of a patient has an improved tip design and methods of making the tip. The balloon catheter has a flexible shaft with proximal and distal ends, a hub affixed to the proximal end, and a balloon affixed to the shaft near the distal end. At least a distal portion of the shaft includes a tubular inner body, and the balloon has a distal leg affixed to the inner body. A short, tubular tip member is placed in contact with the distal end of the inner body, and a shrink tube is placed around the point of contact. A wire mandrel is passed through a lumen defined by the inner body and tip member. While the shrink tube is heated, compressing the tip member and inner body, the mandrel is moved. This combination of heat, radial pressure, and mandrel movement causes a blending of the materials of the inner body and the tip member. The resulting joint of the tip member and inner body is both strong and flexible.

Abstract: A balloon catheter for medical treatment of a patient has an improved tip design and methods of making the tip. The balloon catheter has a flexible shaft with proximal and distal ends, a hub affixed to the proximal end, and a balloon affixed to the shaft near the distal end. At least a distal portion of the shaft includes a tubular inner body, and the balloon has a distal leg affixed to the inner body. A short, tubular tip member is placed in contact with the distal end of the inner body, and a shrink tube is placed around the point of contact. A wire mandrel is passed through a lumen defined by the inner body and tip member. While the shrink tube is heated, compressing the tip member and inner body, the mandrel is moved. This combination of heat, radial pressure, and mandrel movement causes a blending of the materials of the inner body and the tip member. The resulting joint of the tip member and inner body is both strong and flexible.

Abstract: A rapid-exchange balloon catheter for medical treatment of a patient includes a shaft with proximal and distal sections. The proximal shaft section has a hypotube with a proximal tubular portion, an intermediate tubular portion with a longitudinal indentation, and a distal portion. The distal shaft section has an inner and outer tubular body, and their proximal ends are sealed to the hypotube near a transition between the hypotube indented portion and the hypotube distal portion. The inner body defines a guidewire lumen extending from a proximal guidewire port at its proximal end and a distal guidewire port at its distal end. The hypotube distal portion extends into the space between the inner and outer tubular bodies, and provides a flexibility transition from the proximal shaft section to the distal shaft section.